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Land Dispute Leaves Traditional Ruler, 2 others Dead In Benue

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From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

A land dispute between Amla Community in Otukpo and Okete Community in Ohimini Local Government Areas of Benue State, has claimed the life of a traditional ruler identified as Chief Sunday Okpe, while five other persons have been injured.

Late Chief Sunday Okpe, a clan head in Okete Community was reportedly slaughtered along side, with two other people by the Amla militias who also burnt down 17 houses and ten motorcycles on Friday and Saturday, May 2024.

It was gathered that the dispute which has lasted for over three years, came to climax last Friday and Saturday leaving three persons dead from both communities while property worth millions of naira also destroyed.

The dispute had left several persons injured who are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals in Otukpo and many houses reportedly burnt down beyond repairs.

Speaking to newsmen on phone in Makurdi, the Caretaker Chairman of Otukpo, Mr Alfred Omakwu, confirmed the incident and simply said “The problem was that the Okete people lost it.”

He explained that “They, Okete people, used to farm in Amla land and sometimes last year, 2023, when we wanted to do layout to develop the place, the Okete people went to report to the Och’Idoma that their farm products was there and so the Och’Idoma told them no layout would be done until they harvest their products. 

“February this year they went and harvested their products and the Och’Idoma told them that in March, the Otukpo people can go ahead with their layout. That none of them should farm there again.

“So when the bulldozers were brought back to the place, they again said that they have already farmed on the land and that it is affecting their farm products.”

He said the Okete people reported to their second class chief who also confirmed from the Och’Idoma that their people have been told not to farm there again.

“So when they were doing the layout on Friday, they went to their lawyer and when he called me, I told him the people were asked not to farm there again but if they want to go to court, it’s their right.

“They said they would stop the bulldozers from working and the lawyer told them he would have to get an injunction from the court and they said they can’t wait.

“Then they went to the First Class Chief of Otukpo/Ohimini, who called the Och’Idoma and he still said they should not stop the people doing the layout that he asked them not to farm there again.

“Then they went there and opened fire on the people. They killed one, shot two people and burnt all their motorbikes, about 10 of them.

“So the Otukpo people retaliated the next day, burnt some houses, killed two persons,” Omakwu said.

But the Caretaker Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Mr Samson Okoh, accused the Otukpo Chairman of taken bulldozers to destroyed farm crops of his people.

Giving account of the incident from his side, Mr. Okoh said the land in dispute is in a place called Amla, close to Okete.

According to him, “the Otukpo Chairman took bulldozers to the place where the Okete people happened to be farming for years to open a layout and then bulldozed all the farm crops belonging to his people.

“When the Okete people approached them and asked why they are doing that, the Amla people said the land does not belong to the Okete people but to them Amla people. 

“So when the argument ensued according to what I was told, somehow one of them from Otukpo pulled the trigger but mistakenly the bullet entered the Otukpo person rather.

“Then on Saturday night the Amla people reinforced and barricaded the Okete people burnt houses beat up one boy and in the day time around 10 to 11am when I went to take the boy they killed to the mortuary, the Alma people went to the place and burnt 17 houses, burnt motorcycles, slaughtered a chief, a clan head Sunday Okpe, and injured five persons. we have taken them to the teaching hospital in Otukpo for treatment.”

Okoh lamented that Okete community is completely deserted as the people have ran to take refuge at Ojayi community pending when peace is restored.

He further stated that he was not aware that the Och’Idoma asked his people not to farm there again “I am not aware of that but the Otukpo Chairman claim so. I was not told by the Och’Idoma to tell my people not to farm there.

“The Och’Idoma cannot tell people to stop farming where they have been farming for years without compensation, without settlement and you just take the bulldozer and bulldoze people’s crops.

“Automatically you’re killing those people and this people have nothing else that they do apart from farming. 

“I am writing to the government to restore peace to enable my people to go home and continue their normal business. If the government can do this I’ll be very happy,” Okoh said.

Meanwhile Otukpo Chairman who noted that calm has been restored in his area said after a peace with the state Commissioner of Police, CP Hassan Yabanet in Makurdi on Monday, they have been asked to fish out those who perpetrated the act to ensure they are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

“Yesterday the Commissioner summoned all of us from both parties for a peace meeting. We have agreed that all the culprits will be brought to book. We will arrest all those who went to start the attack and those who did the reprisal because we asked them not to attack since the people who went to shoot are known, they would be handed over to the police so that it can serve as deterrent to other people who will take laws into their hands,” Omakwu said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident. She said “I don’t have details but the incident was confirmed to me and one person died at the time I called.”

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Ajuri, Tinubu’s Spokesperson Takes Exit, Cites Mesical Reaaona

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Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Chief Ajuri Ngelale has quit his job. He said in a statement in a Abuja that he would proceed on an ” indefinite leave, to deal with ” medical matters” affecting him amd hia immediate family.Hos statement reads: “On Friday, I submittd a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.

While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.
I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and family”

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Fuel Crisis: 1000 CSOs Fault Tinubu’s Economic Team, Want Immediate Reconstitution

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By David Torough, Abuja

About 1000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the auspices of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs), on Saturday Faults President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Team and called for immediate reconstitution.Expressing deep concerns over the state of the economy and escalating fuel prices compounding the hardship of Nigerians despite the recent protest, the groups said Tinubu must act now to avert disintegration.

The groups said the current situation across the country has cast doubt on the competence of the Tinubu economic team and called for urgent review.
The CCSOs in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out that the plight of Nigerians is sinking low and their patience is wearing off following the deteriorating economy.
The statement reads in part, “The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the Nigerian economy, which is becoming increasingly unbearable for millions of citizens.“It is evident that the recent hike in fuel prices and the unstable exchange rate are the direct results of economic mismanagement by those responsible for overseeing our nation’s financial policies. The ripple effects of these failures are being felt in every household across the country, worsening poverty and crippling economic activity.“The floating of the Naira, which was initially sold to Nigerians as a means of stabilizing our currency, has done little to prevent the continued devaluation of the Naira. In fact, the exchange rate disparity has widened significantly, with the Naira losing value daily, impacting the cost of living, basic commodities, and inflation.“While this policy was expected to ease foreign exchange pressure, it has instead deepened economic challenges due to poor implementation and lack of strategic foresight.”The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as a death trap of indebtedness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which also they claimed had slowed down importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, hence the current shortage of PMS across the country. “Of equal concern is the precarious position of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which finds itself in a debt trap, with global suppliers of petroleum products losing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to honour its obligations.“Reports have shown that NNPCL has accrued debts totalling over $6 billion, causing petrol supply shortages. International suppliers are now reluctant to continue providing fuel on credit, exacerbating supply chain issues and pushing up the price of petrol at the pump”, they claimed.The CSOs also asserted that, “We hold the managers of the Nigerian economy responsible for these disturbing developments. Their inability to provide sound policies and long-term solutions has left the nation in this predicament.“It is clear that there is no cohesive strategy to address the rising debt, the growing imbalance in the foreign exchange market, or the country’s heavy reliance on importation for petrol supply. The recent hike in fuel prices reflects the collapse of responsible economic management and accountability.“Nigerians are left to bear the brunt of these failures. Businesses are shutting down, transportation costs have skyrocketed, and citizens are spending an increasingly larger percentage of their income on basic necessities. This state of affairs is unacceptable.”The group therefore placed some demands; Immediate intervention from the government: There needs to be a comprehensive and transparent plan to stabilize the Naira, restore confidence in the petroleum supply chain, and negotiate a restructuring of NNPC’s debts to ensure continuous fuel supply.“Accountability for economic mismanagement: Those responsible for the reckless management of our foreign exchange policies and NNPC’s debts must be held accountable. The government must also disclose its plan to mitigate the rising fuel costs and economic burden on Nigerians.“A return to sound financial policy: The floating of the Naira has proven ineffective under current conditions. We call for a re-evaluation of monetary and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investment.“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations reiterates that without immediate corrective measures, the economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leading to further hardship for the average Nigerian. The government must act decisively and responsibly to reverse this downward spiral”, they added.

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Tension in Makurdi Community as NAF Personnel Demolishes Houses, Destroys Rice Farm

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There is growing tension in Ugondu community, Makurdi LGA, Benue state by young people opposed to the demolition of houses and destruction of rice farms in the area allegedly on the directives of senior Air Force officer, Air Commodore Akinbuwa Ayodele.

It was learnt that Commodore Ayodele, who is facing multiple legal actions following dispute over a plot of land located on George Akume Way Makurdi and owned in blatant disregard to the judicial process embarked on destruction of structures on the plot.

Eyewitness said when the equipment arrived no one imagined it was for destruction.

But in a militray- like operation, two flats of two units each, completely roofed, electrified and plumbing work completed were among the structures demolished as the bulldozers rolled over rice farms in the vicinity as well.

It was learnt that last year, a Makurdi High Court presided by Justice Mary Ijohor, granted an order of perpetual injunction, in the same matter, upon application by the supposed owner of the plot and awarded the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only, as cost. The matter, enforcement of fundamental rights, was marked as MHC/582/M/2023.

Godwin Akor whose rice farm was destroyed in a chat with newsmen said that he was shocked at the development. He however said he won’t speak more on the matter as it is still before the court.

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